Gas-engine.



w, R. KAHLENBERG.

GAS ENGINE, APPLICATION FILED NOV- 2 9. 1913- 1,163,?58, 4 Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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nnrrnn sa arns WILLIAM R. KAHLENBERG, OF TWO RIVERS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 KAHLENBERG BROS. 00., OFIWO RIVERS, YNISCONSIN GAS-ENGINE.

Application filed November 29, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. KAHLEN- BERG, a citizen of the United States, and resi dent of 'iwo Rivers, in the county of Mauitowoc and State of iVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines; and- I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinvention refers to gas engines and has for its primary object to provide a firing bulb for effecting ignition of the fuel charge, which bulb under all conditions, is arranged to project into the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder.

, Another object of my invention is to provide a bulb that is adjustable relative to the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder, whereby the same may be removed from the influence of the hot gases therein. This provision is especially desirable in instances where'a gas engine is equipped for selectively utilizing either gasolene or kerosene as a fuel. F urther advantages of the ad justable feature in connection with the bulb are that the said bulb, when adjusted in or out with respect to the combustion chamber will thus vary the area of the same, another advantage being the fact that the bulb is also rotatorily adjustable whereby a clean surface may be presented to oppose jets of fuel oil, it being understood that, under certain conditions when the oil spray or jet is directed upon one spot only, liability of the surface to become fouled will result, whereby the efficiency of the engine is impaired.

With the above objects in view the inven tion consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents asectional elevation of a fragment of the firing end of an engine cylinder embodying the features of my invention, the said cylinder being shown equipped with means diagrammatically expressed. forutilizing either gasolene or kerosene as a fuel; Fig. 2, a similar sectional View of an engine cylinder provided with a head having a bulb embodying a modification of my invention, and Fig. 3, a sectional'view of still another form.

Referring by characters to the drawings, 1 represents the combustion chamber of an Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. id, 1915.

Serial No. 803,718.

engine cylinder 2, the said chamber being closed by a water-jacketed head 3 having a centrally disposed well that extends through the head, the same being formed in connection with an upwardly projecting neck 4' that is threaded atits end for the reception of a cap 5 having a suitable gland 6, through. which a bulb stem 7 extends, the said stem being in threaded engagement with one member of the gland. The upper end of the stem is squared for the reception of a socket-wrench and the stem also carries jam-nuts 6, whereby it is held in its adjusted position when said jam-nuts are forced down upon the gland. Secured to the inner end of the stem 7 is a hollow circular bulb 8 that is arranged to be slidably adjustable within the well t, the said bulb being provided with suitable packing rings, whereby gases are prevented from escaping from the combustion chamber of the cylinder into the well and from thence out through the stufiing-box. As shown, the lower end 8 of the bulb is preferably hemispherical in shape and, in its working position, extends into the combustion chamber. The engine cylinder is provided with a suitable air and oil mixing valve 9, which mixin valve communicates with the combustion chamber and is adapted to supply gasolene and air in the desired proportions, whereby carlnireted air is utilized as a fuel in the ordinary manner. The combustion chamber is also provided with a make and break sparking mechanisnrlO, which sparking mechanism is in circuit with a switch controlled generator .or battery 11. The spark mechanism is operated from a cam 12 that is mounted upon a shaft 13, the same being driven in synchrony with the piston of the cylinder, not shown. The shaft 13, through an eccentric 11 or other suitable gear connection, imparts motion to a pump 1.5. which pump supplies kerosene through a pipe 15 to a valve needle constituting a torch 16, the same having a nozzle 16"that extends into the firing chamber and is positioned to discharge jets of fuel oil upon the firing bulb when the latter is in its working position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the engine cylinder is shown equipped for selectively utilizing diiferent volatile fluids as a fuel and, for the purpose of economy, under ordinary conditions, it is desirable to utilize kerosene for supplying the Hence, under ordinary conditions, it is necessary to delay starting in order that the bulb may be heated to the proper degree for igniting the vaporized oil. By the arrangement shown this delay' is obviated due tothe fact that, in starting, the mixing valve 9 is opened to admit carburetcd air, under which conditions gasolene is utilized as a fuel. The engine is then started in the ordinary manner and the successively introduced charges of carbureted air are compressed and exploded by the sparking mechanism, of any desired standard type.

At any time after the engine is in motion or before starting the same,the bulb 8, under certain conditions, may be withdrawn from the combustion chamber into the well 4, to thus withdraw the greater portion of said bulb from the heated combustion chamber, whereby its temperature will be held sufliciently low to prevent premature ignition of the fuel charge. The engine will thus operate effectually on gas, in the ordinary manner. Should it be desired, however, to utilize kerosene as a fuel, the bulb is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 1, while the engine is running, in which position within the combustion chamber the bulb will absorb sullicient heat, whereby it can be utilized as a means for igniting kerosene vapor. The valve 16 is then opened and, with each impulse of the pump 15, a jet of kerosene is sprayed from the valve nozzle upon the juxtaposed face of the bulb, whereby it is exploded. The switch controlling the generator circuit for the sparking mechanism 10 is then opened, whereby said sparking mechanism is cut ut and the mixin; valve for the carbureted air is also cut oil to permit the engine to run under gas generated by the kerosene, which is supplied in jets synchronouslyuvith movement of the 'engine piston. It is also apparent that the bulb 8 is adjustable both longitudinally and rotatorily. Hence when it is desired to present'a clean face to the jets of oil the said bulb can readily be twisted. lit is also apparent that, by adjusting the bulb more or less into the combustion chamber, its area is increased or diminished, whereby var riation in a compression of a charge of gas is obtained.

mamas 'VVihile I. have shown and described specific detalls of construction in connection with the bulb and its adjustment, it should be understood that I do not restrict myself to such details, as they may be varied within the knowledge ofskilled mechanics without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates an engine cylinder having its head 3 equipped with a firing bulb 8, the hemispherical end of which projects into the combustion chamber and is cast integral with the head. In this form of my invention kerosene or. analogous volatile fluids are utilized only as'a fuel and the bulb is initially heated from a torch or-other well known means. Grenerica-lly this airrangement is similar to that shown in connection with Fig. 1 due to the fact that both forms of bulbs, when in operation, project into the combustion chamber.

Fig. 3 illustrates still another form of my invention wherein the hot bulb 8" is arranged to project into the combustion chamher, but is cast separately therefrom and inserted in an opening of said cylinder head, being secured by cap-screws that engage flanges of the bulb.

I claim:

1. Av gas engine comprising a cylinder provided with a head, means for selectively introducing carbureted air or kerosene into the firing chamber of .the cylinder, a sparkig mechanism for the'carbureted air, a firing bulb carried by the cylinder head, and.

means for adjusting the same whereby it is introduced into the combustion chamber or removed therefrom.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having the same diameter throughout its length, means for selectively feeding carbureted air or kerosene into one end portion of the cylinder, sparking means for the carbureted air, and .a vaporizing bulb projecting into the cylinder in position to. .be heated by the combustion of the carbureted air and to vaporize the kerosene.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Two Rivers in the county of Manitowoc and State of Wiscousin in the presence of two witnesses.

lVILLIAM R. KAHLENBERG.

Witnesses A. M. lines, A. S. KATCHI. 

